Bi(cycle)curious lololol

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Steven Soderburgin

I am considering selling my old as fuck truck and saving money on insurance and gas and just commuting by bicycle and public transportation. I've been wanting to do this for a couple years, now, but it feels like the right time to do it, but I am wondering what a good bike for commuting would be. I have a really good local bike shop but I was wondering if anyone here had some insight into what I should be looking for in a commuter bike. It would mostly be on roads and sidewalks. I'm not really interested in long trips but I want something that will be comfortable to ride for 4-5 miles at a time, and good for occasional recreational use.

Anyone here know about bikes?
 
ThatNickGuy

ThatNickGuy

Speaking as someone who ditches his transit pass every summer to bike all over Toronto, I applaud this.

Honestly, you don't need to spend a kajillion dollars on a bike, but it doesn't sound like you'd want to, anyway. I would say ask for a street bike, which is exactly what it says. It's not like a mountain bike or an all-terrain bike and works great on the roads.

Of course, the biggest thing will be to get comfortable riding beside cars. Most times, people are pretty courteous, but you'll find the occasional asshole. Oh, and of course, learn hand signals!
 
sixpackshaker

sixpackshaker

I'd recommend a Mountain Bike. Because they are sturdy (good for jumping curbs or going down stairs) and have low gear ratios (because you live in a hilly town.) Get a second set of wheels and put slick tires on them. Slicks are good for city riding and give you much more speed. They also will do well in a pinch if you want to hit the back roads for exercise. Then you will have the knobby tires for the days of rain.

Man, I need to get off my arse and start riding again.
 
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makare

At my school, people steal bikes to ride to the dome with. So if you are missing a bike that is where you look. Most people go to the dome to workout because that is where the fitness center is for now. I guess some people are in just too big a hurry to get there that they absolutely have to bike it.
 
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Chazwozel

Oh man this is a loaded question.

I'd recommend a touring bike if you like your ass. I use a piece of shit department store hybrid to get to work from the train station, but have a touring seat on it. Cost me 20 bucks on ebay.

My regular rec bike is a Giant Yukon mountain bike, if I wasn't afraid of it getting stolen at 30th St Station in Philly, I'd ride that to work too.
 
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Steven Soderburgin

Yeah, a hybrid or city bike are the kind I'm considering. They are so expensive though UGH.

also for the record fuck fixies forever, they are dumb, especially in a hilly town. I see people with them downtown occasionally and I want to punch them.

edit: I do like my ass quite a bit.
 
evilmike

evilmike

sixpackshaker said:
I'd recommend a Mountain Bike. Because they are sturdy (good for jumping curbs or going down stairs) and have low gear ratios (because you live in a hilly town.) Get a second set of wheels and put slick tires on them. Slicks are good for city riding and give you much more speed. They also will do well in a pinch if you want to hit the back roads for exercise. Then you will have the knobby tires for the days of rain.

Man, I need to get off my arse and start riding again.
Click to expand...
Slicks are pretty handy, but I suspect for the type of riding he is talking about , that's all he's going to need.

Other thoughts:

I'm not sold on shocks. To me, they always feel like they are sucking up energy that would otherwise be going to the road.

If the riding distance starts getting any longer than 5 miles, invest in a way to recover from a flat tube. I use a frame pump and carry spare tubes. (I've never really been able to get patch kits to work well.)

Invest in a white LED light for the front, and a blinky red LED light for the back. You should be able to get both for under $30 total.

A full rear rack is amazingly useful -- especially when coupled with something like Nashbar's Townie bags. http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Catal...tSet&sortBy=savings//0&cn1=&searchTerm=townie
 
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Chazwozel

Steven Soderburgin said:
Yeah, a hybrid or city bike are the kind I'm considering. They are so expensive though UGH.

also for the record fuck fixies forever, they are dumb, especially in a hilly town. I see people with them downtown occasionally and I want to punch them.

edit: I do like my ass quite a bit.
Click to expand...

400-700 bucks should be what you're looking to dish out. Anything cheaper than 400 is usually a piece of shit.

Here you want to shoot for somethign like this:

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/model/cypress.dx.black/5687/36601/

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/model/escape.city.2011/6963/43123/
 
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Steven Soderburgin

that second bike is sexy as hell (and so will I be when riding it B) )

but seriously, yeah, that's exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for.

Any other tips are totally welcome, and I appreciate any insight and help you guys have to offer.

This thread is now for talking about commuting by bike and road bikes in general.
 
sixpackshaker

sixpackshaker

evilmike said:
Slicks are pretty handy, but I suspect for the type of riding he is talking about , that's all he's going to need.

Other thoughts:

I'm not sold on shocks. To me, they always feel like they are sucking up energy that would otherwise be going to the road.

If the riding distance starts getting any longer than 5 miles, invest in a way to recover from a flat tube. I use a frame pump and carry spare tubes. (I've never really been able to get patch kits to work well.)

Invest in a white LED light for the front, and a blinky red LED light for the back. You should be able to get both for under $30 total.

A full rear rack is amazingly useful -- especially when coupled with something like Nashbar's Townie bags. http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Catal...tSet&sortBy=savings//0&cn1=&searchTerm=townie
Click to expand...
I preferred front shocks only. I personally like the speed of having a triangle rear end on the bike. Not liking the rear shocks is also because I am heavy. It always felt like I was bottoming out the rear shock too much. And Steve looks to be a bit smaller than me.
 
Calleja

Calleja

Look for one with a chain guard if you're gonna be riding with long pants, cause seeing someone ride with their pants tucked in the socks counts as visual pollution.
 
drawn_inward

drawn_inward

I have a $200 Raleigh M20.
http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2001&Brand=Raleigh&Model=M20&Type=bike

I've been riding it for almost 10 years, and haven't had a single problem with the frame or gears. I've gone through a couple of rear wheels, but that's because I think I should be in that movie Rad.
So, you don't absolutely have to get an expensive bike. Although, since this is going to be your only form of transportation (besides Charlies), you might want to invest a bit. No gas, no insurance, means that you'll save a ton. Also, make sure you test ride whatever you might buy.

Definitely get a helmet, comfy seat, a good bike lock, and lights for night riding. Riding in traffic is scary at first, but you get used to it. Have fun!
 
Seraphyn

Seraphyn

I bike 9,5 miles to and from work daily on this:



I cost me about 10 bucks at a police auction and it's been getting me everywhere for about 5 years now. Just maintain/treat a bike well and it won't break down ever. Reason I wanted the bike above is for it's simplicity, there's next to nothing that can go wrong on it. No gears change thingies that are prone to breaking, simple back pedal brakes rather then the wired ones, sealed chain box to keep out filth. I even ditched the lights/dynamo for those clip on lights, since the normal one burned out too often for my liking.
 
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Kitty Sinatra

I find a mountain bike is best for city cycling. For one thing, sitting up straight makes it more comfortable to look around for all the traffic. Also, the wider tires don't get stuck in the streetcar tracks as easily, though this might be mostly just a Toronto issue.
 
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Koko

My school's bicycle club is called the "Bikeurious Club"
I ride an old ass Trek bike (the first model they made apparently)
its turquoise

mountain bike with street tires, seems to work pretty well getting 'round a hilly urban city.
27 years old so who would want to steal it.
 
evilmike

evilmike

I'm glad to see that this thread now contains two of my favorite things: bicycles and dinosaur comics.



Ice cream is pretty decent too.

So what are you waiting for? Buy a bike, ride the heck out of it, and then eat ice cream!
 
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Steven Soderburgin

The Mex;371737][QUOTE=Koko said:
My school's bicycle club is called the "Bikeurious Club"
Click to expand...
ha ha! This wtfpwns Kissinger's attempt at a pun in the thread's title.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, legit, that is way more clever, though to be fair, I came up with the title in like 2 seconds and never looked back.
 
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